Gas prices drop to $3.77, lowest since late July

The average price of gas in Orange County has continuously dropped over the past 46 days and is now the lowest it hs been since late July.

O.C. motorists are paying an average price of $3.77 for a gallon of regular unleaded Friday, according to AAA. That's about 4 cents less than last week and 64 cents lower than last month. It remained largely unchanged from the previous day.

"Motorists should look for prices that are near or below $3.60 a gallon for regular unleaded to ensure they are getting the lowest price," said Jeffrey Spring, a spokesman with AAA.

Despite the hefty price decrease, a gallon of regular gas is still about 4 cents more expensive than last year.

AAA officials said that's due to the spike motorists experienced in October when amid supply shortages and refinery problems, Orange County prices shot up 19 cents in one 24-hour period.

Statewide, motorists are now paying an average $3.76 – that's 5 cents less than last week and 60 cents lower than last month.

In California, the priciest gas is in San Luis Obispo, where the average gallon costs $3.93, according to AAA's fuel-gauge report. The cheapest gas is in the Stockton-Lodi area: $3.56 a gallon.

Analysts said a series of problems at key California oil facilities sent prices soaring last month. Fire slowed production at one of the state's biggest refineries in Northern California. A power outage disrupted another big refinery, in Torrance. Contamination shut down a major pipeline.